In addition to a fair number of adult Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings
hanging around Cape Charles Beach over the last 2 weeks, there is a small
mass of shorebirds on a lakebed on Washington Avenue (directions at
http://www.sterling-inn.com/cctour.html). The composition has changed over
the past few days, but it has included up to 7 Lesser Yellowlegs (2 juv.), 1
ad. Short-billed Dowitcher, 4 Killdeer, 46 Semipalmated Plovers (a few juv.),
34 Semipalmated Sandpipers (a few juv.), 1 juv. Least Sandpiper (brilliantly
colored), 1 juv. Western Sandpiper (elegant), 1 ad. White-rumped Sandpiper, 1
ad. Pectoral Sandpiper, and molting ad. Black-bellied Plover. The birds are
feeding pretty actively in the area, pulling out quite a few long worms in
the case of the plovers. The lake will ultimately be filled again (it is
part of a development around the King's Creek Marina area), but for now it
offers a number of species that aren't normally easy to come by within the
town limits. Anywhere there's a Pectoral Sandpiper, one can always hold out
hope for one of the freshwater rarities (Ruff, Sharp-tailed Sandpiper,
phalaropes, etc.).
Ned Brinkley
Cape Charles, VA
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